Jesus' Team Wins Claiming Crown Jewel; Pegasus Next

Prepping for a planned start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team returned to winning form Dec. 5 in the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel Stakes at the Florida track.

The Jewel headlined the 22nd edition of the Claiming Crown, a nine-stakes event for the claiming horses.

Jesus' Team hadn't won in six starts since defeating $25,000 claimers at Gulfstream May 8, but the 3-year-old son of Tapiture  earned 2-5 favoritism Saturday after finishing third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course and second in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland in his two most recent starts.

"I think the race was good for him because he only had the one work since the Breeders' Cup. After the Breeders' Cup, he was in Ocala (Fla.) in a round pen and small paddock," trainer Jose D'Angelo said. "I think he's going very well into the Pegasus World Cup."       

Ridden by Luis Saez, Jesus' Team saved ground while racing directly behind Storm Runner, who set fractions of :23.14 and :46.40 in the 1 1/8-mile starter stakes for horses who had raced at least once for a claiming price of $35,000 or lower in 2019-20. Storm Runner set an uncontested pace along the backstretch and around the far turn before entering the homestretch with a clear lead. But Saez eased Jesus' Team off the rail coming off the final turn, and the overachieving colt gradually wore down the pacesetter to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

"This is a very nice horse who ran a very big race last time. I knew today would be a little tough because he ran so big last time out, but he has such a big heart," Saez said. "Today, I had to ride him a little hard, but he gave me that kick and always tries."

The final time was 1:49.30 on a fast track.

"I know the speed might be hard to beat, so I'm very happy with his race," D'Angelo said.

Storm Runner finished two lengths ahead of show finisher Dack Janiel's, who stalked the pace outside Jesus' Team.

After winning the claiming race, Jesus' Team finished second behind graded winner Sole Volante in an allowance-level race in June at Gulfstream, fourth in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, second in the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth, and third in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.

"I am very sure he's going to improve because this race worked out very good for him," D'Angelo said. "I can give him some days off and prepare him for the Pegasus World Cup."

Bred in Kentucky by Pamela Gartin, Jesus' Team is one of two winners out of the Suave mare Golden Memories. The other, Cowboy Night (by Tale of Ekati ), is 3-for-17 with earnings of $102,190. The dam also has an unnamed yearling filly by Shackleford.

The winner, whose second dam, stakes-winning Memories of Gold, is a half sister to grade 1 turf standout Memories of Silver, was a $30,000 purchase by Alfamaq from Darby Dan Farm's consignment at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Also on the Saturday card, Descente won the Glass Slipper Stakes; Krsto Skye took the Express Stakes; Jakarta won the Distaff Dash Stakes; High Noon Rider took the Emerald Stakes; Avant Garde won the Rapid Transit Stakes; Queens Embrace landed the Tiara Stakes; Fiya won the Canterbury Stakes; and Frost Or Frippery took the Iron Horse Stakes.